Epilogue

It's been a colorful 365 days! Thanks everyone for reading. And thank you 25th year of life for being somewhat interesting!

What's coming next? Nothing on this blog... at least for now. It's time to study!

Postage Due

This is the first time I've ever received something postage due! Thanks grandma (and Doug W)! I'm glad that the envelope clearly tells you what to due.

I Heart Bingo!

And because it's Valentine's Day it's especially heart bingo! Nobody won, but we had more than a dab of fun!

Freeziac

For my birthday, Nate and Tricia took me to Freeziac! Unfortunately, this place is located like a mile from my house and has a half-price happy hour from 9pm to 10pm each night--way too easy to go to and froyo! But Tricia reassured me that it's much better for me than ice cream.

Stack moves back to SoDak

A haiku for Stack
An anxiety attack
Hope you like SoDak

Halftime Show

I couldn't figure out why the halftime show was elementary school dancers at the Timberwolves/Knicks game. Then I got the connection. They wanted to show us something we could Knicks.

Monster Train

Oh no! A monster has taken over Duluth! Or as a friend of mine would say, "Duluth, Duluth, Duluth is on fire!"

Pterodactyl!

"Pterodactyl!" The words that were uttered moments before this picture was ptaken.

Texting Humor

I love when people indulge my sense of humor and sharp wit!

Dirty Floor Irony

Interesting how the dirtiest aisle at Target was the one with the mops and cleaning products! Cleanup on aisle 5!

Actuarial Mail!

My first issue of "The Actuary" got delivered to my house today! How exciting! Or as us actuaries might say, how tpxciting!

Superbowl

Watching a giant win at the Sanberg's!

Ice Tree

Beautiful icicles this morning! Looks like Narnia!

Interesting Graph

One of the more interesting things in my textbook. I did a lot of studying today. Since debt creates a favorable tax shelter, more debt in a corporation is theoretically good. However, as debt increases, probability of bankruptcy and other financial distress increases. Therefore, an optimal debt ratio can be found at a certain proportion of debt to overall capital. Get it? Got it? Good.

Other astute readers may also notice that the above picture is simply a hammock.

Groundhog's Day

No sunlight = no shadow. I guess that means an early winter! Phil saw his shadow, but there does not seem to be agreement among the groundhogs.

Banana Hat

My coworker (and friend?) Laura has achieved something amazing today. She has created a banana with a hat! Make sure you all dole out your congratulations to her!

James 4

Submit vs. Come Near. 'Nuff said!

Pictionary Gangstas

In this game, invented by the gentleman on the left, one player must draw something on the board. Then the other player must draw something to try to destroy it. Then the first player must draw something to avoid the destruction... and so forth until a resolution is reached. This particular game involved a meteor, an underwater house, and Greg Boyd I believe. I don't remember who won--I think it was a draw!

Minesweeper

Ah Minesweeper... you can successfully sweep 98 mines and then have a 50/50 shot at getting the last one! So unfair, this beloved game of mine.

Malt Attack!

I must have the best friends in the world! They kidnapped me at midnight to take me out for malts! It was a gruel and unusual surprise!

Craps!

Just a normal Friday night for a bunch of actuaries, yo!

Passport

Getting ready for my excursion to Canada! This is much farther than the boat docks, my usual destination.

AAA*

I am now an official member of the AAA (although notice the asterisk).*

Cheez-it!

These are my attempt at homemade cheez-its. They came out a little fluffy. But they were still pretty gouda.

Allianz Toast

A toast to celebrate our CEO moving on! One of my excited coworkers was quite the electric toaster!

Thanks a Latte!

Britnee just made her first vanilla latte (or maybe her first good vanilla latte?), and better yet: it was for me! Thanks a latte!

It's a train!

Tubing/sledding at Iowa's only sledding hill! I'm not sure what we were training for though...

Dice Battery Duck Tower

These are all common items used in our daily bets. That duck looks pretty smug being at the top though.

Baby It's Cold Outside

For our Canadian friends, that's -22 and 7/9 degrees celsius!

SOPA

The day that Wikipedia went dark and all Spanish-speaking people couldn't eat soup!

Brown Bag

Good thing there's no chicken on this sandwich, cause then it'd be a brown bag fowl!

Great Clip?

Great clip? You be the judge.

It's a Beautiful Day

Some days I wonder why I have so many friends that are Packer fans. Other days it doesn't bother me quite as much.

Win 'de' 500 Championship!

That's exactly what Tracy and I did-- Win de 500 Championship! (and the trophy that went along with it!)

Whodunit?

Why of course it was Mr. Green with the wrench in the dining room! I did win, but I may have cheated by looking at these detective notes.

Church Meeting

My first church meeting as a real member! (Aye voted "aye".)

ASA

My ASA certificate came in the mail today! What does ASA stand for? It means now I can refer to myself AS A actuary.

James 3

It's powerful, people!

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Cookies

For those that are counting, that's 3 times the chocolate! (Can you spot the third?)

Full Moon

Howwwwwwl!

New Cabinets Downstairs

You were probably expecting a group of advisers that would be staying in my basement!

Timberwolves

I've decided to become a fan this year! You've got to LOVE the BAREAge of talent and their WILLIAMSness to turn a DARKO last season in to a precious RUBIO this year!

The Recipe Book

For Christmas, my Aunt Jeanie gave me an awesome recipe book with tons of our family's recipes. Here is my first attempt at following one. I think I was supposed to make the stuffing before putting it on the chicken--it was kind of crunchy! It was still tasty though.

O Tannenbye!

O tannenbye, o tannenbye,
We'll see you same time next year!

USB Fridge

What's better than the manliest soft drink? The manliest soft drink when it's cold!

Massive Resolution

Technically not a New Year's Resolution since I started it a month or so ago, but it's definitely a massive resolution!

Happy New Year!

No foil wrapped chocolate candies this year!